by K. A. Linde
“It was unfortunate that he couldn’t attend the homecoming game this year. And we’re missing him this weekend.”
“So am I.”
Everyone always asking about her dad. Between Gates and her dad, people were going to know who she was on campus all right. It made her second-guess the decision to bring Gates along…and second-guess this meeting as well.
“I’m sure he’ll be around next year when I’m cheering on the sidelines.”
Coach Galloway laughed jovially and nodded. “I’m sure he will.”
A knock on the door sounded, and she turned around to see who was interrupting.
“Hey, Coach. You called for me?”
“I did. Bryna, let me introduce you to our student representative.”
Bryna’s smile brightened. “Eric Wilkins.”
He turned at his name, and she drank him in. Six feet tall, dark brown hair, light honey–hazel eyes. He was still built as if he had never blown out his knee beyond recognition last year in the middle of his touchdown interception that won them the game during the national championship.
“I shouldn’t be surprised you recognize him. Eric is training underneath me as a student coach,” Coach Galloway told her. “Eric, this is Bryna Turner. Her father is Lawrence Turner, nineteen eighty-eight National Championship winner.”
Eric nodded appreciatively and walked over to shake her hand. “I love his movies,” he told her. “Clever work.”
“Thanks,” she murmured.
“If you don’t mind, Eric, I’d love for you to show Bryna around. Her father is a very esteemed alumnus.”
Bryna stared back at Coach Galloway in surprise. They really were bringing in the big guns if they were getting Eric Wilkins to show her around. She wondered how many millions of dollars her dad donated every year for her to be getting this kind of treatment.
“Of course, Coach.”
“Well, I have some more business to attend to here. It was great seeing you again, Bryna. I’ll probably make a surprise appearance at the Sunday send-off brunch, so we’ll talk again there.”
Bryna took that as her dismissal. She shook the coach’s hand again and then left the office with Eric.
“So, what are your plans today?” Eric asked. “Campus tour? Sit through an information session on the school? Tour the dorms?”
She cringed. “No, thanks. I’d rather do what students actually do on campus.”
He laughed. “Get drunk and play football?”
“Sounds like my scene,” she told him truthfully. If she made friends now, then she would be one step closer to taking over the school.
“Then, we need to go to Posse.”
BRYNA MET UP WITH GATES AND ERIC on campus later that evening to go to Posse. The guys seemed to size each other up when they were introduced. They were about the same height, but Eric had a bigger build. Gates had lost some of the insane definition he had needed while on set for Broken Road.
After a few seconds, they smiled and shook hands.
They walked off campus to the club Eric had recommended. Gates and Eric talked easily the whole way while Bryna was lost in thought.
If her father hadn’t forced her to come to this recruitment weekend, she would be locked away in Jude’s apartment, discussing everything they had been holding back. Instead, she was on campus, being escorted by two guys who would probably sleep with her with a snap of her fingers.
She wasn’t looking forward to explaining all of that to Jude once they finally made their confessions. Then again, it was nothing compared to the fact that she was seventeen and still in high school.
“This is the place,” Eric said.
Posse was a colossal building with a bright green neon sign on the front. Eric got them past the bouncer and inside. The interior was a giant open space with multiple bars and tiered balconies overlooking the dance floor. A DJ blasted hip-hop music. Outside, there was a pool with several swim-up bars. The room had an energy that she couldn’t explain. It was hypnotic.
She and Gates followed Eric through the crowd to one of the bars. He shook hands with a bunch of huge football players, and then he introduced them. She got a couple of appreciative looks and just kept her smile on her face. This was what she wanted to be doing next year—cheering on the sidelines, hanging out with football players, and overall, being the most desired person at the school. She needed to push Jude out of her thoughts tonight and enjoy her time here.
“Drink?” Eric offered.
“Yeah,” she said, leaning her chest against the bar. “What’s good here?”
He smiled down at her and pressed himself into the space between her and the guy behind him. They were nearly touching.
“Everything.”
She glanced away from him and back toward the bar. She knew he was only flirting with her because the coach had told him to accommodate her. Couldn’t lose any of their booster money. But still, he was good at it.
“I’d like a dirty martini,” she finally told him.
“If you like martinis, I’d recommend the Peppermint Posse.”
“I’m in.”
Eric flagged the bartender, and she scooted out from the bar. If Jude weren’t in her life, she would have been all over Eric. But not tonight. When the bartender appeared in front of him, Eric ordered her martini and himself a beer. Gates already had one in hand from another blonde bartender. She must have recognized him because her mouth was dropped open in surprise.
Her Peppermint Posse drink was not only delicious, but it was also potent. She could feel her buzz setting in quickly.
By the time their group walked outside, she lost count of how many martinis she had consumed. Eric was talking to a couple of football players nearby. They kept shooting glances in her direction. Gates was by her side but talking to another blonde. She kept looking at Bryna as if wondering her relationship to Gates and how soon she could get him away from Bryna.
Bryna ignored the girl and motioned for another martini from a passing waiter. The waiter brought her the drink, and she started downing it. God, this stuff is amazing.
“Gates,” Bryna whispered, leaning into him.
“Bri, not right now.” He moved closer to the other girl.
“I’m going to call Jude.”
He furrowed his brows. “Not a good idea. You’re drunk.”
“I’m fine,” she slurred.
Her eyes wandered back over to Eric. He met her gaze and smiled before continuing to talk to the other players.
“Oh, and, Gates?”
“Yeah, B?”
“Don’t you think Eric is hot?”
Gates sighed and shook his head. He excused himself from the girl he was talking to and walked them a short distance away. “I don’t think that’s a good idea either. You’re really drunk.”
“Do you think he thinks I’m hot?” she asked. Her head felt beyond fuzzy. She could barely keep her eyes open. What the fuck was in those drinks?
“Every guy in this place thinks you’re hot, Bri. Because you are. And if I didn’t know you loved someone else back in Los Angeles, I would drag you out of this bar, back to our hotel room, and fuck you.”
Bryna softly patted his cheek. “That sounds fun.”
Gates closed his eyes and ran a hand back through his hair. “We should go. I should take you back to campus.”
“But I’m having so much fun!”
He moved her to a lounge chair and sat her down. “I’m going to let Eric know we’re leaving. Don’t move your crazy ass out of this seat.”
“Or you’ll spank it?” she asked, giggling.
“Just don’t move it, okay?”
As soon as he walked away, she pulled out her phone and dialed Jude’s number.
He answered groggily, “Bri?”
“Jude! Oh my God, I miss you.”
“Are you drunk?” he asked.
“No. Okay, maybe.”
He sighed. “Where are you?”
“Las Vegas,”
she told him. “I fucking love this city.”
“Are you safe? Is everything okay? Do I need to come out there and get you?” He was gradually growing more fearful.
“No, don’t worry. I’m with Gates. He’s taking care of me,” she said completely nonchalant.
“Who the hell is Gates?” Jude asked. His voice shifted to something dark that she didn’t recognize in her state.
“My ex-boyfriend, but don’t worry. We’re just friends now.”
“You are in Las Vegas with your ex-boyfriend…instead of in Los Angeles with me?”
“Yeah. But I’m visiting LV State, and Eric Wilkins is here!”
“Bri, what the fuck is going on with you? You’re with your ex and a college football player? Do you even know what those guys are like?”
“It’s not like that,” she insisted. “We’re just having a good time.”
“I know guys like him and their idea of a good time,” he said menacingly.
Gates walked back over right then. “Bri, what the fuck are you doing? Get off the goddamn phone.”
“Who is that?” Jude asked.
“That’s Gates. Here, talk to him!” She handed the phone off to Gates and flopped back on the lounge chair.
Gates took the phone out of her hand and stared at it before answering, “Hey, man. I’m sure this sounds really bad, but I’m just taking your girl back to her room, so she can sleep.”
After a few seconds, Gates responded again through gritted teeth, “Yeah. I understand you perfectly.” He hung up the phone and tossed it back into Bryna’s purse. “Let’s go.”
“Is Jude coming?”
“No,” he said, putting his arm under her shoulders and helping her up.
“Can Eric come?”
“You’re not his type.”
“But why? I thought I was everyone’s type.” She squinted up at him, and then her eyes went wide. “Oh my God, is he gay? Is that why he never made a move?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Gates shrugged. “Let’s get you back to campus. Now, Bri.”
“Will you stay with me?” she asked, leaning her head against his shoulder.
He closed his eyes and sighed, clearly restraining himself. “Yes.”
“You’re the best,” she told him before blacking out.
Bryna woke up with a headache from hell.
She sat up in bed and felt her stomach roll. “Oh God,” she groaned, covering her mouth. She stood up as quickly as she could, tripped over something on the floor, and stumbled into the wall.
“Jesus, Bri,” Gates grumbled from where he lay on the floor.
She didn’t even respond. She rushed to the bathroom and emptied her stomach. After a few minutes of retching, she stood on uneasy feet, brushed her teeth, and wandered back into the room. She felt like absolute shit.
“What are you doing on the floor?” she groaned. She collapsed back into bed.
“Because I’m a gentleman,” he joked. He scooted her over and climbed into bed next to her. “How much of last night do you remember?”
She looked up at him uncertainly. “We went to Posse. I was drinking martinis.”
He ran a hand over his eyes and then filled her in on the rest of the night. If she hadn’t already been sick, then she was pretty sure she would have been again. Her face paled, and she clutched the comforter in her hands.
“Oh my God,” she murmured. “I need to go home and see Jude.”
“What about your meeting today?”
She shook her head. “I’ll tell them I’m sick. I can’t believe I said those things to Jude. I can’t believe you talked to him. I can’t believe Eric is gay.”
“All a rather shocking night,” Gates agreed. He looked so concerned about her, but she couldn’t even function right now.
“Hey,” she said, turning to face him. “Thank you for taking care of me. I know this wasn’t easy.”
Gates smiled wearily and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Anything for you, B.” His hand lingered a second too long. “Well, let’s get you back to L.A. before you do anything else stupid.”
After a quick shower and a call to the administration, Bryna and Gates were on their way back to Los Angeles. Bryna tried to reach Jude on the drive, but he didn’t pick up. She was disappointed but not surprised. It seemed to be his MO to hole up whenever he was pissed off. She didn’t really blame him for being angry this time. She had a good excuse for being in Vegas, which she would explain to him when they finally spoke. She honestly didn’t think she needed an excuse for being there with Gates since they were just friends and nothing had happened besides her drunken ridiculousness. However, she did need to apologize for how she had acted on the phone. What the hell was I thinking?
She had completely blacked out, so she really didn’t even know. Her best guess was, she hadn’t been thinking at all.
As soon as Bryna returned from Las Vegas, she hopped in her car and drove over to Jude’s apartment. She couldn’t let him sit there and obsess over what had happened. If New Year’s were any indication, she wouldn’t hear from him for over a week…not until he cooled off. But they had too much to discuss to wait that long.
She parked her car and then walked up to his apartment. Her stomach was in knots as she knocked on the front door. When nothing happened, she knocked again.
Still nothing.
She pulled out her phone and tried calling him. The phone went straight to voice mail. Fuck! He was ignoring her.
When pounding on the door accomplished nothing, she returned to her car and sat down in horror. She had fucked everything up. All she had wanted to do was experience college the way she was supposed to. She wouldn’t have ever been there if it weren’t for her dad, and now, her relationship was going up in flames. She choked back on the ache spreading out from her chest. I cannot lose Jude over this!
Just as she was about to pull out from the garage, a text came in.
Can’t talk right now.
She messaged back.
Please let me explain.
I’m not free again for two weeks.
Bryna checked her calendar and cursed. Of course he would pick her busiest weekend of the year. Gates’s premiere and the Pink Charity Benefit.
I can meet you late Friday night. It’s Valentine’s Day.
Fine.
She ground her teeth. She had so much she wanted to say in that moment.
Call me when you can. I would really like to apologize.
She waited for him to respond, but when he didn’t, she pulled out of the parking lot and started driving. She was halfway home when she received his last message.
I can’t call. I’m with my wife.
Her heart plummeted.
“GATES, OVER HERE!” a reporter yelled.
“Mr. Hartman, please a word.”
“He’s so hot!” someone screamed from the crowd.
“A picture, please.”
“Right this way!”
Bryna smiled through the blinding white flashes of light. Reporters with camera crew littered the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard for the Broken Road premiere. A crowd had started forming behind the police barricades hours before the stars were expected to show.
Tonight, Gates was the star.
Crowds cheered for him. Women swooned at his smile. Even the reporters weren’t immune to his charm. He was all charisma tonight. Completely in his element.
Bryna, on the other hand, had been out of it for the past two weeks of Jude’s silence. It was straight up torture. She wanted to find out what the fuck he was doing with his wife, but her heart and stomach twisted because the question was dangerous. It would lead to a road of additional questions she didn’t want to ask herself, but she couldn’t seem to stop. Did he lie about being separated? Has he been with his wife the whole time? Were all the times he claimed to be at work really an excuse for him being with her? Is that why he couldn’t see me? Are they sleeping together? Am I no better than my stepmother after all?
All that tension left Bryna stressed and erratic. So, she focused her attention on the charity benefit. She dove head first into planning and tomorrow night all her efforts would pay off. If she could get through the benefit, then things would go back to being as perfect as they had been in St. Barts.
That meant being a supportive friend to Gates on his big day. She had gone all out, wearing a stunning blue Alberta Ferretti original paired with flashy patterned Louboutin high heels. Gates was in a classic tuxedo and looked dashing.
“Gates, one picture with your date, please,” a female reporter requested.
Gates wrapped an arm around Bryna’s waist, and they both smiled for the camera.
The camera crew snapped a few shots.
When they were done, the woman said, “You make a great couple.”
Bryna felt her cheeks heat, and she glanced at Gates.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Our readers have been asking whether or not you are still taken. Some thought, or maybe were hoping, your relationship was over.” The reporter laughed and conspiratorially smiled at Bryna. “We’d love to hear your love story.”
“Oh, we’re not—” Bryna started to say.
“We prefer to keep our personal life private,” Gates said instead.
The reporter switched tactics. “Everyone saw you two together on New Year’s. I even heard there was a kiss,” she said, raising her eyebrows. “Can you confirm that?”
“We were together for New Year’s,” Gates acknowledged. “But I don’t kiss and tell.”
“A gentleman,” the reporter acknowledged. “Is it true that you were recently spotted out in Las Vegas together as well?”
Gates nodded. “That’s right.”
“A budding romance. Can you tell us how you feel about her?”
Bryna kept her fake smile on her face, but she was ready to get out of this situation. Pretending with Gates was fine for the red carpet, but it was enough that her stepmother thought they were still dating. She didn’t need the rest of the world to know that as well.
“We already said, we keep our lives private,” she said.
“Bri, it’s okay if they know,” Gates said, squeezing her waist.
She raised her eyebrows at him in confusion. “Know what?”